Tape cutter

ABSTRACT

A tape cutter adapted to surround an arcuate section of a tape roll so that the roll is free to move relative to the cutter wherein the cutter comprises a pair of interfitting generally Ushaped members, one of which includes a cutting edge. The members collapse together as the tape is depleted and the interfitting members include provision to prevent the shifting apart axially as well as provision for holding the members in distinct positions as they are collapsed together.

United States Patent [[91 Doyle [4 1 Sept. 9, 1975 i 1 TAPE CUTTER {76] inventor: Dennis D. Doyle, l l 15 Hernando (A), Ft. Pierce, Fla. 33450 [22] Filed: Nov. 19, 1973 [2]] Appl. No: 416,887

[52] US. Cl 225/56; 225/65 {51) Int. Cl. B26F 3/02 [58] Field of Search 225/56, 65

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3134,5261 5/!964 Schleicher 225/56 3,138, ll] 6/1964 Blodce 225/65 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l 224 656 6/[960 France 225/56 Primary Examiner-Donald R. Schran Assistant Examiner-L,eon Gilden Attorney, Agent, or FirmWolfe, Hubbard, Leydig, Voit & Osann, Ltd.

[57] ABSTRACT A tape cutter adapted to surround an arcuate section of a tape roll so that the roll is free to move relative to the cutter wherein the cutter comprises a pair of interfitting generally Ushaped members, one of which includes a cutting edge. The members collapse together as the tape is depleted and the interfltting members include provision to prevent the shifting apart axially as well as provision for holding the members in distinct positions as they are collapsed together.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures TAPE CUTTER DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to portable cutters for adhesive backed tape in roll form, and more particularly concerns an improved tape cutter which is extremely simple in construction. easily attached or removed from a tape roll and which is characterized by the cutter edge being maintained spaced apart from the roll so that a portion of the tape remains on the roll in an upright or exposed position after cutting to enable the user to grasp the upright portion for removal of another piece of tape.

With the various different varieties of adhesive backed tapes available in roll form there has long been a need for a cutter that may be used in conjunction with such tapes to easily remove a desired length of tape from the roll, yet which avoids the problem of having to again free the end of the tape from the roll to obtain a subsequent length of tape as the diameter of the roll decreases with the use of the tape.

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved tape cutter that solves the foregoing problem and is simple and relatively low in cost of production, yet which may be easily put on and removed from a tape roll.

It is another object of the invention to provide an improved tape cutter which maintains the cutter edge spaced apart from the roll so that a portion of the tape remains on the roll in an upright or exposed position after cutting thus enabling the user to grasp the upright portion for removal of another piece of tape. In this connection it is an object to provide a tape cutter of the foregoing type where provision is made for readjusting of the cutter position as the tape roll is depleted so the exposed portion of tape after cutting does not increase in length and become tangled or unmanageable.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved tape cutter of the foregoing type which is adapted to be held in place about the tape roll for convenient and easy handling of the roll, yet which does not interfere with the turning of the roll as the tape is being removed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a view in perspective of a tape cutter in accordance with the present invention and shown in place on a roll of tape; and

FIG. 2 is an enlarged exploded perspective view of the exemplary components of the tape cutter shown in FIG. 1.

While the invention will be described in connection with a certain preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular illustrative embodiment. On the contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications and equivalent arrangements as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Turning now to the drawings there is illustrated in FIG. I an illustrative embodiment of the tape cutter, generally indicated at 10, and adapted to be positioned on a tape roll 12. It will be apparent that the tape may be any of the various available types of adhesive backed tapes and including but not limited to plastic, fiber, electrical, masking, etc. In its illustrative form, the tape cutter 10 comprises a generally rectangular shaped structure made up of a pair of interfitting substantially U-shaped members l4, 16 adapted to surround an arcuate section of the tape roll 12 so that the tape roll is free to move relative to the tape cutter 10 to unwind a length of tape from the roll.

The length L of the cutter is preferably less than the diameter D of the inner roll core 18 while as will appear more fully hereinafter, the length L is preferably larger than the radius or D/2 of the roll.

To permit cutting of the tape end 20, the member 14 is provided with a cutting edge 22, here shown in the form of an integral serrated edge. Again, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the cutting edge may be a separate piece or it may be a straight or other shaped toothed edge against which the tape end 20 may be cut or torn.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, the interfitting arrangement of the members l4, l6, permits them to be collapsed together as the tape roll 12 is depleted so that the upright or exposed tape end 20 does not become too long after cutting against the edge 22. Referring to FIG. 2, the lower ends of the member 14 have inwardly extending flanges 24 that snap over longitudinally extending beads 26 on member 16. This arrangement permits the members to be taken apart and put together surrounding the roll. In addition, the inner walls of the legs 25 of member 14 have a plurality of peaks 27 and valleys 28 so that the beads 26 of the member 16 may snap into successive valleys 28 as the members are collapsed together to prevent them from moving apart as the tape is being used until they are forcibly pulled apart to remove from the roll.

To prevent axial shifting movement and coming apart of the members l4, l6 transverse slots 30 and ribs 32 are provided on the respective inner and outer walls of the interfitting members l4, 16.

Referring to FIG. I, the distance or gap X from the top peripheral surface of the tape roll 12 to the cutting edge 22 will remain approximately the same as long as the members 14, 16 are collapsed together so that the inner surface of the member 14 rides on top surface of the roll. This gap X also reflects the approximate amount of free tape end 20 after cutting that will remain exposed for grasping to remove a subsequent piece. As the length L of the cutter 10 is increased in size toward the diameter D of the core 18, the gap X becomes larger. On the other hand as the length L is decreased the gap X becomes smaller. Consequently, selection of the length L of the cutter 10 for a particular roll having a core diameter D should be such that tape will be lifted away from the roll beneath the cutting edge 22 by a sufficient amount to have something to grasp for pulling an additional piece of tape from the roll. A sufficient gap X will be maintained if the length L of the cutter as indicated above is larger than one half the inner diameter D of the core 18, but somewhat less than the actual diameter D so too great a gap is not present. The cutter 10 may be formed of molded plastic or any other suitable material such as sheet metal.

In the foregoing description, the cutter edge 22 is carried by the outer member I4 and the lower member l6 collapses into the upper and outer member 14. It should be appreciated that the arrangement can be in verted so that the member 16 carries the cutter edge and is disposed at the topv Likewise, either of the members may include the bead 26 while the other has the peaks and valleys 27, 28.

I claim as my invention:

1. A tape cutter adapted to be held in place about an arcuate section of an annular tape roll, comprising, in combination, a pair of interfitting U-shaped rectangu lar members, a cutting edge carried by the one of said members that rides on the outer peripheral surface of the tape roll, means associated with the adjoining legs of each of said members for holding the members in a plurality of relative collapsible positions with respect to one another, said relative collapsible position holding means being axially extending peaks and valleys on the legs of one of said members and axially extending beads on the legs of the other of said members, the lower ends of said member having the peaks and valleys including inwardly extending flanges that snap over the beads on said other member, and means for preventing axial movement between said interfitting members, said axial shifting prevention means including a transverse slot on at least one of said member legs and a transverse bead on the corresponding adjoining leg of said other member.

2. A tape cutter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer member legs have the peaks and valleys and end flanges on the inner surface thereof, and the interfitting member includes the axially extending beads and transverse bead on the outer surfaces of its legs. 

1. A tape cutter adapted to be held in place about an arcuate section of an annular tApe roll, comprising, in combination, a pair of interfitting U-shaped rectangular members, a cutting edge carried by the one of said members that rides on the outer peripheral surface of the tape roll, means associated with the adjoining legs of each of said members for holding the members in a plurality of relative collapsible positions with respect to one another, said relative collapsible position holding means being axially extending peaks and valleys on the legs of one of said members and axially extending beads on the legs of the other of said members, the lower ends of said member having the peaks and valleys including inwardly extending flanges that snap over the beads on said other member, and means for preventing axial movement between said interfitting members, said axial shifting prevention means including a transverse slot on at least one of said member legs and a transverse bead on the corresponding adjoining leg of said other member.
 2. A tape cutter as claimed in claim 1 wherein the outer member legs have the peaks and valleys and end flanges on the inner surface thereof, and the interfitting member includes the axially extending beads and transverse bead on the outer surfaces of its legs. 